Glazing construction

ABSTRACT

A glazing construction for positioning and sealing, from inside the building, a window pane within a rigid frame. A resilient gasket has, in cross section, the shape of a lower case letter &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; h&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; including an outer strip, an intermediate web and a lower flange. The gasket is installed on a rigid frame larger than the glass pane so that the outer border defined by the outer strip is smaller than the glass pane, and the intermediate border defined by the intermediate web is slightly larger than the glass pane. The glass pane is installed from inside the building by movement normal to the plane of the window and directly into the intermediate border. A rigid sill member is then secured around the opening inside the building to provide a sill border smaller than the glass pane. Finally, a plurality of resilient wedge pieces are positioned between the sill border and glass pane to secure the glass pane in place.

United States Patent [111 3,590,539

172] Inventor Ho ar 11- Br 3.090.085 S/l963 Brown .0 52/397 Bowllng GreemOhio: 3.388517 6/l968 Wohl Et al 52/403 Michael Rill-l, Walnut l 3,4l8,773 12/1968 Saruay 52/403 X [2|] Appl- N 82 26 3,474,586 /1969 Houerman.... 52/403 X 1 Filed d 2 33: 3,500,603 3/1970 Strack 52/403 x Patente u y l 73] Assignee The D. S. Brown Company pmfmry Abbott North Baltimore, Ohio ASSISIH'I! Examiner-Sam D. Burke, lll

Attorney-Owen and Owen [54] GLAZING CONSTRUC-HON ABSTRAC T: A glazing construction for positioningand seal 2 Claims 4Dnwhg gm mg, from Inside the building a WlIlClOW pane within a l'lgld frame. A resilient gasket has, In cross section, the shape of a U.S. lower case letter h" including an uter strip an intermediate 52/403 web and a lower flange. The gasket is installed on a rigid frame [51] III. Cl. E04) 1/70, larger than the glass pane that the gutter border defined by E017/04 the outer strip is smaller than the glass pane, and the inter 0 mediate border defined the intermediate web is slightly 402, 397, 616, 400 larger than the glass pane. The glass pane is installed from inside the building b movement normal to the plane of the win- [56] Rem-anus Cited dew and directly into the intermediate border. A rigid sill UNITED STATES PATENTS member is then secured around the opening inside the build- 1,89 l ,932 l2/ 1932 Hunter 52/397 ing to provide a sill border smaller than the glass pane. Finally, 2,623,250 l2/l952 Chilton. 52/403 X a plurality of resilient wedge pieces are positioned between 2,883,! l 7 4/1959 Arnd 52/302 the sill border and glass pane to secure the glass pane in place.

GLAZING CONSTRUCTION Various designs of extruded resilient glazing gaskets for positioning and sealing a glass pane relative to its rigid build ing framing member have been proposed to reduce the expensive procedures involved in conventional glass installations, especially in modern building constructions where extensive use of glass is made for architectural and functional purposes. One such construction is shown in our copending application, Serial No. 806,561, filed Mar. 12, 1969, in which the resilient glazing gasket is first secured to the outer periphery of the glass pane and then the combination gasket and pane is installed within the rigid frame. While this construction is particularly well-suited for certain ground floor installations, it may be somewhat difficult to use in elevated installations where the size of the glass pane makes its manipulation and installation within the building frame from outside the window very difficult, due to the weight ofthe glass.

It is the object of this invention to provide a glazing construction which, due to the cross-sectional design of the glazing gasket and the use of a second sill member installed inside the building after the glass is in place, enables the user to install the glass pane from entirely inside the building. This object is accomplished by providing a peripheral glazing gasket generally in the shape of a lower case letter h," which has an outer strip adapted to extend between the outer surfaces of the glass pane and building frame, an intermediate web positioned between the edges of the building frame and the glass pane, and a lower flange spaced from the outer strip to provide a channel for inserting the gasket upon the building frame.

In using this gasket, the window opening defined by the rigid frame must be larger than the glass pane so that, when the peripheral gasket is installed, the outer border defined by the outer strip is smaller than the glass pane, an intermediate border defined by the intermediate wedge is slightly larger than the glass pane so that the glass may be positioned within the intermediate border by moving it directly into the window opening from inside the building, in a direction normal to the plane of the opening. With the glass pane thus positioned, additional rigid sill members are secured inside the building to provide a sill opening smaller than the glass pane. With the sill members thus installed, a plurality of resilient locking wedges are installed between the inner face of the glass pane and the sill members to lock the pane in position. The locking wedge causes the glass pane edges to be gripped between the outer strip of the resilient gasket and the locking wedge which is urged against the sill member. The locking wedge also forces the lower flange of the resilient gasket downwardly and inwardly so that the rigid building frame is securely gripped by the gasket.

The above-described construction and its method of use will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, with reference being made to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. I is a view in perspective of a complete window installation using the glazing construction of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view in perspective of the resilient glazing gasket which is first attached to the rigid building frame prior to the installation of the glass;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view in perspective of the locking wedge used in conjunction with the gasket shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view in perspective of the completed construction of this invention, taken along line 4-4 of FIG. I and shown on an enlarged scale.

Referring briefly to FIG. 1, the completed installation includes the gasket construction of this invention which extends around all four sides of the window pane I installed within a rigid frame 11 secured around the opening in a building wall I2. As discussed herein, the various parts of the glazing construction are described with reference to their relative posi tions along the lowermost side of the window pane 10, as the completed construction is shown in FIG. 4. It is to be understood that on the sides and top of the pane 10, the relative positions of the parts described would be reversed or sideways from those described in the pending claims, and the claims define the gasket in its position shown in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 2, the gasket 13 comprises a continuous peripheral strip of resilient material having the cross section generally in the form ofa lower case letter h." The gasket 13 includes an outer strip 14 having upper and lower edges 15 and 16, respectively, which gradually lead to and blend with the outer surface I9 of the outer strip 14. The slope of the surfaces l7 and 18 and the angle at which they join the outer surface 19 is determined by the desired outside appearance of the gasket and may be gradually rounded or tapered as desired. A sufficient slope for these surfaces 17 and I8 is desirable to prevent water or dust from accumulating thereon.

Extending from the inner surface of the outer strip 14 and generally normal to the plane thereof is an intermediate web 20 whose upper and lower surfaces join the outer strip 14 along lines which are undercut, as indicated by the reference numeral 21.

A lower flange, generally designated by reference numeral 22, extends from the intermediate web 20 downwardly toward the lower edge 16 of the outer strip 14. The intersection between the inner surface 23 of the lower flange 22 and the lower surface of the intermediate web 20 is undercut, as indicated by reference numeral 24, and the distance between the lower edge 25 of the lower flange 22 and the lower edge 16 of the outer strip 14, indicated by reference numeral 26, is designed to be less than the width of the rigid frame member upon which the gasket 13 is to be installed, as will be subsequently explained. On the lower side of the lower flange 22 is an outwardly extending ridge 27 which forms a groove 28, the function of which will be subsequently explained.

Referring to FIG. 3, the resilient wedge, generally designated by reference numeral 29, has an upper surface extending from an inner edge 30 to an outer rim 31, and a lower portion extending downwardly from the upper portion and terminating in a lower tip 32. Adjacent the lower tip 32 is a lip 33, and extending along the surface between the lower tip 32 and the outer rim 31 is a land 34. Below the inner edge 30 is a groove 35 above a tapered flange 36 which gradually blends with the arcuate surface 37 leading to the lower lip 33. Finally, at least one void or passage 38 extends longitudinally through the wedge 29 in order to facilitate proper deformation of the wedge 29 when it is inserted in position, as described below.

FIG. 4 shows in cross section the completed glazing construction of this invention used to position the glass pane 10 within a window opening defined by the rigid frame 11 having an outer leg 39 and an inner leg 40 defining an open channel 41 therebetween. As shown in this embodiment, the extrusion forming the rigid channel 11 also includes a horizontally extending sill support member 42 which includes a pair of lock members 43 and 44 which extend in the direction toward the outside of the building or the window opening. A sill member, generally designated by reference numeral 45, comprises a rectangular, hollow extrusion having an inner face 46, an upper sill surface 47, and a pair of lock members 48 and 49 complementary in shape to the locking flanges 43 and 44 of the sill support member 42. As can be readily seen from FIG. 4, when the gasket wedge 29 is not in position, the sill member 45 may be removed by sliding it toward the position of the window pane l0 and moving it upwardly. The height of the sill member 45, that is, the position of the upper portion of its inner face 46, must be such that the sill opening defined by four or more sill members installed around the periphery of the window opening is smaller than that of the glass pane I0. It should be understood that the particular configuration and means of attaching the sill member 45 to the rigid frame ll may vary, depending upon the architectural and functional aspects of the building, and its horizontal extent may be greater or less than that shown.

As previously explained, the window opening defined by the peripheral frame composed of the outer leg 39 of the frame member 11 is larger than the glass pane. To install the window from the inside of the building, which would be on the right of the pane 10 shown in H0. 4, the peripheral gasket 13 is placed upon the outer leg 39 of the frame 11 in the manner shown. As previously explained, the distance 26 between the lower edge 16 of the outer strip 14 and the lower edge 25 of the lower flange 22 is less than the width of the outer leg 39 so that the peripheral gasket will remain in place once installed. When thus installed, the outer border defined by the upper portions of the outer strip 14 will be smaller than the size of the glass pane l and the intermediate border defined by the intermediate web 20 of the gasket 13 will be slightly larger than the glass pane.

The glass pane is next installed by moving it into position within the intermediate border. This can be done by moving the pane from inside the building in a direction normal to the plane of the opening because there are no obstructions to this movement and the necessity of edgewise insertion orother complex manipulation of the pane, as is the case with prior art constructions, is eliminated. in addition, the installer can readily center the pane within the gasket 13 because all edges may be seen and needed adjustments to correct centering will be apparent to the installer.

Once the pane 10 is installed in place and is resting upon the intermediate web against the upper portions of the outer strip 14, the sill members 45 are installed around the opening to provide a sill border which is smaller than the area of the glass pane 10. Finally, the wedges 29 are forced downwardly between the opposed surfaces of the glass pane l0 and the inner face 46 of the sill member 45, as indicated in FIG. 4. Preferably, four pieces 29 of wedge material are used with the length of each piece corresponding to the length of the side of the pane 10, with the ends of the four wedge pieces 29 mitered or otherwise made to fit with one another. As is apparent from FIG. 4, as each wedge piece 29 is installed, the lower tip 32 seats in the groove 28 in the gasket 13 to force it downwardly and inwardly. Continued downward movement of the wedge 29 until the final position is reached will force the lower edge 23 of the lower flange 22 of the gasket 13 against the inner surface of the outer leg 39 of the frame member 11, and also will pull inwardly upon the intermediate web 20 to snugly hold the outer strip 14 against the glass pane l0 and outer leg 39.

As shown in FIG. 4, the inner face 46 of the sill member 45 has an elongate channel 50 which interlocks with the channel 35 in the wedge 29 as the wedge 29 reaches its lowermost position. This interlocking prevents the unintentional upward movement of the wedge 29. Because the width of the upper portion of the wedge 29 is greater than the horizontal distance between the inner surface of the glass pane l0 and the opposed inner face 46 of the sill member 45, the wedge, when in its fully inserted position, will bear against the glass pane to firmly squeeze it between the outer strip 14 of the gasket 13 and the land 34 and upper edge 31 of the wedge. As previously explained, this deformation is facilitated by the voids or passages 38 extending along the length of the wedge 29. As also seen in FIG. 4, the undercut portions 21 and 24 on the gasket 13 are out of contact with the sharp edges of the glass pane l0 and outer leg 39 so that any consequent working or movement of the glass pane 10, due to wind loads, etc., will not cause these sharp edges to dig into or cut the gasket 13.

in the construction shown in FIG. 4, considerable air spaces, such as that indicated by reference numeral 51, are

present which provide a certain amount of insulation to the construction, and are also large enough to prevent a pumping action due to wind loads on the pane 10 which would cause water to be forced from the construction in the absence of such a large air space. In order to further assure that the installation is not subject to filling and squirting of water from such pumping action, a number of liquid drains or weep holes 52 may be provided, extending through the outer leg 39 of the frame member 11 so that if any liquid should enter the constructlon between the edges of the glass pane l0 and the gasket 13, it will eventually pass downwardly to the space 51 and drain to the outside of the building through the weep holes 52. 1

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the preferred embodiment of the invention thus described enables the installation of large window panes without the disadvantages encountered when using prior art constructions which is espeeially desirable in the case of installations involving very large glass panes at high elevations above street level. As previously explained, the construction is to be utilized on all four sides of a window or, with certain design modifications, may be used on round, oval or arcuate-shaped window installations so that the relative terms used in the description and claims hereof in defining the various parts of the invention are applicable to all such installations.

We claim:

1. A glazing construction comprising, in combination, a rigid channel frame extending about the periphery of the window area and having first and second spaced-apart legs extending toward said window area to define a window opening, a glass pane smaller than and adapted to be received in said window opening, an elongate resilient gasket extending along the periphery of said window opening, said resilient gasket having a cross-sectional configuration including an outer strip lying generally parallel to and adjacent the outer surface of said first leg of said rigid channel frame, an intermediate web extending inwardly from said outer strip and positioned between the opposed edges of said glass pane and said first leg, a lower flange extending downwardly from said intermediate web and spaced apart from said outer strip a distance slightly smaller than the width of said one leg of said channel whereby said flange and outer strip will grip said one leg of said channel to hold said resilient gasket in position thereon, a rigid sill member secured to said second leg of said channel frame and extending beyond said channel frame to define a sill opening smaller than said glass pane, and an elongate wedge piece positioned along the edge of said glass pane between the inner surface thereof and said rigid sill member, said wedge piece having a cross-sectional configuration including an upper portion slightly larger than the distance between the opposed surfaces of said glass pane and said rigid sill member and a lower portion extending into said rigid channel whereby, when said wedge is inserted in said channel, said upper portion is wedged into engagement between the opposed surfaces of said glass pane and said sill member, and said lower portion of said wedge piece is forced against said lower flange of said gasket to force it against said one leg of said channel to further grip said rigid channel between said lowerflange and said outer strip.

2. The glazing construction of claim 1 which further includes at least two liquid passages extending through said rigid channel frame at the lower side thereof to the outside thereof whereby liquid collected therein will drain out of said channel. 

1. A glazing construction comprising, in combination, a rigid channel frame extending about the periphery of the window area and having first and second spaced-apart legs extending toward said window area to define a window opening, a glass pane smaller than and adapted to be received in said window opening, an elongate resilient gasket extending along the periphery of said window opening, said resilient gasket having a cross-sectional configuration including an outer strip lying generally parallel to and adjacent the outer surface of said first leg of said rigid channel frame, an intermediate web extending inwardly from said outer strip and positioned between the opposed edges of said glass pane and said first leg, a lower flange extending downwardly from said intermediate web and spaced apart from said outer strip a distance slightly smaller than the width of said one leg of said channel whereby said flange and outer strip will grip said one leg of said channel to hold said resilient gasket in position thereon, a rigid sill member secured to said second leg of said channel frame and extending beyond said channel frame to define a sill opening smaller than said glass pane, and an elongate wedge piece positioned along the edge of said glass pane between the inner surface thereof and said rigid sill member, said wedge piece having a cross-sectional configuration including an upper portion slightly larger than the distance between the opposed surfaces of said glass pane and said rigid sill member and a lower portion extending into said rigid channel whereby, when said wedge is inserted in said channel, said upper portion is wedged into engagement between the opposed surfaces of said glass pane and said sill member, and said lower portion of said wedge piece is forced against said lower flange of said gasket to force it against said one leg of said channel to further grip said rigid channel between said lower flange and said outer strip.
 2. The glazing construction of claim 1 which further includes at least two liquid passages extending through said rigid channel frame at the lower side thereof to the outside thereof whereby liquid collected therein will drain out of said channel. 